Drowning victim in Eagan identified as 13-year-old boy

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) - Sheriff’s officials have identified the boy who drowned in an Eagan lake.

Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie says 13-year-old Jeylon Elijah Holloway was walking his dog last Thursday while staying at Sonesta ES Suites with his family who had recently moved back to Minnesota.

When the dog returned to the hotel alone, Jeylon’s mother called police. Eagan officers found Jeylon’s shoe near Lemay Lake, which isn’t far from the hotel, leading them to believe the boy had fallen into open water.

The sheriff’s office dive team responded and found Jeylon within five minutes. Lifesaving measures were performed before he was taken to the hospital. Leslie says the boy was in the water two to three hours.

He was taken off life support at Children’s Hospital on Friday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

According to the boy’s aunt, Levanita Haynes, the family moved back to Minnesota in November after Jeylon’s mother, Winona Holloway, lost her job due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On a GoFundMe page, Haynes said her nephew was “outgoing, fun-loving and adventurous” and liked playing video games. Haynes said he was homeschooled through Oak Grove Middle School in Bloomington.

Leslie warned about the currently unpredictable ice conditions on area lakes.

“Ice is not trustworthy,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of 30-degree days around here, too. We haven’t had that super cold snap, so maybe that’s a part of it.”